System and method for self-contained independently controlled modular manufacturing tools

ABSTRACT

A system and method for a self-contained modular manufacturing device having self-contained modular tools configured to collectively accomplish a specific task or function. In an embodiment, the modular device includes a housing that has a mount configured to engage a robotic arm or other form of maneuvering actuator (such a crane or gantry). The housing may provide a base by which additional modules may be mounted and coupled. The modular device also includes an interface configured to communicate with a remote control system capable of control the robotic arm. The modular device also includes one or more other modules that are configured to accomplish a particular task or function. Such modules are sometimes called end-effectors and work in conjunction with each other to accomplish tasks and functions. In a self-contained modular manufacturing device, individual processors disposed in the housing may be configured to control the functional tools (e.g., each end-effector) independent of the overall manufacturing control system.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

The present application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. Nos.TBD, entitled SELF-CONTAINED MODULAR MANUFACTURING TOOL (Attorney DocketNo.: 127659-000103) filed Oct. 6, 2015; is related to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No.: TBD, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELF-CONTAINEDSELF-CALIBRATING MODULAR MANUFACTURING TOOL (Attorney Docket No.:127659-000203) filed Oct. 6, 2015; is related to U.S. patent applicationSer. No.: TBD, entitled SELF-CONTAINED MODULAR MANUFACTURING TOOLRESPONSIVE TO LOCALLY STORED HISTORICAL DATA (Attorney Docket No.:127659-000303) filed Oct. 6, 2015; and is related to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No.: TBD, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELF-CONTAINEDMODULAR MANUFACTURING DEVICE HAVING NESTED CONTROLLERS (Attorney DocketNo.: 127659-000403) filed Oct. 6, 2015, all of the foregoingapplications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

As manufacturing environments become more automated and complex,robotics and other automated machinery is becoming more and moreprevalent in all phases of manufacturing. Very specific tasks that areconventionally performed by a skilled artisan may be performed usinghighly specialized robotics having highly specialized tools and/or endeffectors. For example, drilling holes in composite sections of acontoured section of an airplane wing or car body may require a highlevel of precision with respect to applying torque to a motor for movingthe end effector around a contoured wing surface. A further example isthe need to tightly control the actuation force applied to the wingsection by the drill bit in order to avoid compromising the wing itself.

In conventional manufacturing environments, various end-effectors andother tools that are used to accomplish various functions are simplycontrollable tools that are mounted to the end of a robotic arm or otherform of actuator such that a central control system controlsend-effectors according to a master logic program or state machine. Thatis, the tool itself does not contain any manner of processing abilitysuch that the tool may be deemed to be a “smart tool” capable ofdirecting its own functions in a self-contained manner. Rather,conventional systems include master programs that exhibit controlfunctionality to tools through control signal communications propagatingthrough robotic arms and actuators. In such a conventional environment,lack of localized processing and control imposes large processing speedand power requirements on the master control system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects and many of the attendant advantages of the claims will becomemore readily appreciated as the same become better understood byreference to the following detailed description, when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a set of modular tools forming aself-contained modular manufacturing device having a local processor forexecuting processing instructions independent of an overallmanufacturing control system according to an embodiment of the subjectmatter disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded diagram of the isometric view of FIG. 1 showingthe set of modular tools that form the self-contained modularmanufacturing device of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the subjectmatter disclosed herein.

FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of an overall control system set in amanufacturing environment that includes the self-contained modularmanufacturing device of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the subjectmatter disclosed herein.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an overall control system set in amanufacturing environment that includes the self-contained modularmanufacturing device of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the subjectmatter disclosed herein.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of an overall control system set in amanufacturing environment that includes the several self-containedmodular manufacturing device of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of thesubject matter disclosed herein.

FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of a method for using several self-containedmodular manufacturing devices in the systems of FIGS. 4 and 5 accordingto an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in theart to make and use the subject matter disclosed herein. The generalprinciples described herein may be applied to embodiments andapplications other than those detailed above without departing from thespirit and scope of the present detailed description. The presentdisclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, butis to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles andfeatures disclosed or suggested herein.

The subject matter disclosed herein is directed to a system (and methodfor use thereof) of a self-contained modular manufacturing device havingmodular tools and parts configured to collectively accomplish a specifictask or function. In an embodiment, the modular device includes ahousing that has a mount configured to engage a robotic arm or otherform of maneuvering actuator (such a crane or gantry). The housing mayprovide a base by which additional modules may be mounted and coupled.The modular device also includes one or more interfaces configured tocommunicate with a remote control system capable of controlling therobotic arm. The modular device also includes one or more other modulesthat are configured to accomplish a particular task or function. Suchmodules are sometimes called end-effectors and work in conjunction witheach other to accomplish tasks and functions. In a self-containedmodular manufacturing device, a processor disposed in the housing may beconfigured to control the functional tools (e.g., each end-effector)independent of the overall manufacturing control system. Further, theself-contained modular manufacturing device may be configured tocalibrate itself with respect to other attached modules or with respectto an underlying manufactured item. Further yet, the modular device mayinclude additional processors that are each capable of independentcontrol of one more end-effectors such that the additional controllersare nested within the primary local controller within the self-containedmodular manufacturing device.

As foreshadowed in the background, a conventional robotic manufacturingsystem may include arm and actuators to which are attached end-effectorsand other tooling. Under a master control system or master controloperator, the robot arm may move the end effector into position wherethe end effector performs the actual machining or assembly of the parts.For example, to fasten two pieces of metal together, a human operatorloads the two pieces of metal into the tooling, and, after the operatorretreats to a safe distance from the robot, the operator pushes abutton, or otherwise indicates to the robot that the robot can begin thefastening process. Then, under the control of the master control system,the end-effector drills one or more holes through the two pieces ofmetal, inserts fasteners (e.g., rivets) into the holes, and installs thefasteners. During the fastening operation, the robot may move theend-effector from hole position to hole position, or the robot may beinstalled on a device (e.g., a rail) that moves the robot from holeposition to hole position. Alternatively, the tooling may move the twopieces of metal relative to the end effector, or may be installed on adevice (e.g., a rail or Automatic Guided Vehicle (AGV)) that moves thetooling. After the two pieces of metal are fastened together, theoperator removes the fastened pieces from the tooling, and repeats theabove procedure starting with loading another two pieces of metal intothe tooling.

Alternatively, where the pieces (e.g., pieces of an airplane wing) aretoo large to be moved by a human operator, they may be moved and loadedinto the tooling with machinery (e.g., heavy equipment), or the robotmay be moved to the location of the pieces instead of the pieces beingmoved to the location of the robot.

The robot and the end effector, in a conventional system, are controlledby a master control system and often through a central ProgrammableLogic Controller (PLC). The PLC executes a software program to directlycontrol all of the operations of the robot and the end effector, and tostore information regarding the robot and end effector. For example, todrill a hole, the PLC may access and execute a drill-hole softwaresubroutine or object (or the PLC may be a state machine) that causes thePLC to generate one or more electrical analog or digital signals thatare coupled to the end effector. These signals (e.g., drill on/off,drill speed, drill extend/retract) cause the drill motor to rotate thedrill bit at a desired speed and to drill a hole. And the PLC mayreceive feedback signals (e.g., drill depth, drill speed) from feedbacksensors so that the PLC can operate the items (e.g., drill) of the endeffector in open loop or closed loop. The PLC may also receivemonitoring signals (e.g., temperature) from sensors so as to takecorrective action if there is a problem (e.g., overheating, shortcircuit).

But there are disadvantages to such a central control system. Becausethe PLC controls all operations of the robot and end effector, thesoftware program (or state machine) that the PLC executes may be long,complex, unwieldy, and difficult and time consuming to update. Forexample, suppose a small change or update needs to be made to thedrilling subroutine. A programmer may need to access, modify, recompile,debug, and reinstall the entire program just for this small change. Andthe debug may include testing the program on the entire manufacturingsystem, not just on the end effector, so that either the entiremanufacturing system is down during this software update, or a separaterobotic system or robot-system emulator needs to be purchased andmaintained just for software updates.

Furthermore, because the PLC needs to generate many analog or digitalsignals to control the end effector, the connector (e.g., “umbilicalcord”) between the PLC and the end effector may be large and complex,and, due to the number of individual connections, may be unreliable. Forexample, such a connector may have from tens to hundreds of individualconnection pins and receptacles. Moreover, because the PLC needs tocalibrate the end effector, swapping out an end effector is anything buttrivial. For example, the PLC may calibrate open-loop offsets (e.g.,previously calculated and stored drill-position offset, camera-positionoffset) based on a look-up table (LUT) that is unique to the endeffector. For example, the PLC may match a serial number of the endeffector with the proper LUT to make sure that the PLC is using thecorrect calibration offsets for that particular end effector. Therefore,when swapping out an end effector, the maintenance person may need toload the calibration data for the end effector into an LUT of the PLC.Even if it is relatively easy to load the calibration data into an LUT,this still presents an opportunity for error that may go undiscovereduntil one or more parts are machined or assembled out of specification.

In addition, because the end effector is designed as an integral unit,repairing the end effector may entail removing and shipping the entireend effector back to the equipment supplier even to diagnose a failurein, and to change, a relatively small part. To avoid down time, thismeans that the manufacturing system that is using the robotic controlsystem may need to keep one or more spare end effectors on hand to swapout a broken end effector. Because end effectors are relativelyexpensive, this adds significant cost to the manufacturer that uses therobot system under a master control system.

Furthermore, to perform any tests on the end effector (e.g., a testafter repair or after a software update), the tester must have an entirerobot system, or at least a robot-system emulator. This adds expense,and may require a large space because the robot is typically large.

Various embodiments of the inventive self-contained modularmanufacturing device address these disadvantages by providing a systemand method of handling control aspects and calibration aspects of theend-effector using a modular device having a dedicated processor forcontrolling the actions of the end-effector in a self-contained manner.In this aspect, problems associated with bulky and remote master controlsystem are eliminated. Further, the modularity of the various portionsof the overall manufacturing system is increased thereby reducingdowntime and repair costs. These and other aspects of the subject matterdisclosed herein are better understood with respect to the descriptionsof FIGS. 1-6 below.

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a set of modular tools forming aself-contained modular manufacturing device 100 having at least onelocal processor for executing processing instructions independent of anoverall manufacturing control system according to an embodiment of thesubject matter disclosed herein. The modular device 100 may includeseveral modules 105-109 that are designed to interface with one or moreother modules 105-109 within the modular device 100. In this manner, theset of modules 106-109 function as one device 100 within the largercontext of a manufacturing control system. Further, each module 105-109may include its own dedicated processor (not shown in FIG. 1) forcontrolling aspects of the functions of each individual module. In otherembodiments, the modular device 100 may include its own local controllerwith several nested controllers embedded within dependent modules. Instill further embodiments, each module 105-109 may be controlled by asingle local processor embedded within one of the modules 105-109. Forthe purposes of this disclosure, the example embodiment having a firstlocal processor for controlling the aspects of one of the five modules(e.g., module 107) along with one or more additional nested controllersembedded with remaining modules 105, 106, 108, and 109 is discussed.

Thus, in this embodiment, there are five modules 105-109 thatcollectively form a self-contained modular manufacturing device 100 thatis a fastener delivery and actuating tool 100. This will be the exampleembodiment that is discussed throughout the remainder of thisdisclosure, but the skilled artisan understands that there can manyseveral other examples of self-contained modular manufacturing device100. The five modules 105-109 of the modular device 100 include anx-y-axis motion-actuator assembly 105 (hidden from view in FIG. 1-seeFIG. 2 for greater detail), a motor-spindle assembly 106, anend-effector assembly 107 (as shown in FIG. 1, a fastener torqueassembly), a y-axis carriage assembly 108, and a fastener-deliveryassembly 109. Collectively, these five modules 105-109 may be controlledby one or more self-contained processors (not shown in FIG. 1) embeddedin one or more of the five modules.

Each self-contained processor (shown in FIG. 2) may include programmingwith executable routines and sub-routines for controlling each of themodules 105-109. For example, a first sub-routine may be programmed formaneuvering the modular device along an x-axis rail (by controlling thex-y-axis motion-actuator assembly 105) and along a y-axis rail (bycontrolling the x-y-axis motion-actuator assembly 105) and the y-axiscarriage assembly 108. A second subroutine may be programmed forselecting and delivering a specific fastener using the fastener-deliveryassembly 109. A third subroutine may be programmed to control themotor-spindle assembly 106 to apply the appropriate drive force to theend-effector assembly 107. Lastly, a fourth subroutine may be programmedto control the end-effector assembly 107 to apply the appropriate torqueto the fastener that has been selected. Additional subroutine may alsoassist with the overall control of the self-contained modularmanufacturing device 100. Each of these routines and subroutines may beexecuted by one or more of the processors embedded within each module105-109.

The self-contained modular manufacturing device 100 may also communicatewith a master control system (shown in FIG. 3) as well. In this sense,the self-contained modular manufacturing device 100 may hand off controlto a master control system until appropriate times and then be handedlocal control at the self-contained modular manufacturing device 100 sothat the specific functionality of the device 100 can be accomplished,Such a back and forth nature is often called a control handshake whereina master control system need not be aware of what the self-containedmodular manufacturing device 100 is doing—rather the master controlsystem need only be aware that the self-contained modular manufacturingdevice 100 is doing its thing.

Such communication may be realized through an umbilical cord 110 havinga communication link, such as RS-232 or standard Ethernet. Further, theumbilical cord 110 may also have cabling for power to the variousmodules 105-109 of the self-contained modular manufacturing device 100.In another embodiment, communication between the self-contained modularmanufacturing device 100 and a master control system may be realizedthrough wireless communications using common wireless communicationprotocols such as IEEE 802.11 and the like. Further, such a wirelessembodiment may also include self-contained battery power such that anyneed for an umbilical cord 110 is eliminated. Additional details abouteach module 105-109 in the self-contained modular manufacturing device100 are presented next with respect to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded diagram of the isometric view of FIG. 1 showingthe set of modular tools that form the self-contained modularmanufacturing device 100 of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of thesubject matter disclosed herein. This exploded view also shows each ofthe five modules 105-109 from the example embodiment discussed above. Asmentioned before, these modules include an x-y-axis motion-actuatorassembly 105, a motor-spindle assembly 106, an end-effector assembly107, a y-axis carriage assembly 108, and a fastener-delivery assembly109. Collectively, these five modules 105-109 may be controlled by oneor more self-contained local controllers 200-204 embedded in arespective one of the modules 105-109. Thus, the local controller 200may be a processor programmed to include routines and subroutines (whichmay be stored in a local memory not shown in FIG. 2) for controlling theend-effector module 107, the local controller 201 may be a processorprogrammed to include routines and subroutines for controlling the x-yaxis actuator module 105, and so on. One or more of these localcontrollers 200-204 nay be programmed to control more than one module105-109.

The modular device 100 may include an x-y-z drive system that mayinclude one or more drive assemblies for actuating an end effector to anx-direction, a y-direction and a z-direction. For example, the modulardevice 100 may include an x-y-axis motion-actuator assembly 105, (forexample, a screw-type drive assembly) that translates the end-effector107 relative to a mount (such as a robot arm) in an x-direction and in ay-direction. Further, the modular device 100 may include a y-axiscarriage assembly 108, (again for example, a screw-type drive assembly)that carries the end-effector 107 relative to the mount in they-direction. Further yet, the modular device 100 may include a z-axismotion-actuator assembly (not shown in FIG. 2) that translates theend-effector 107 relative to the mount in a z-direction. Alternatively,one or more drive assemblies may translate the end-effector 107 in onlyone or two dimensions. Additionally, sensors (not shown in detail)coupled to one or more local controller 200-204 may provide feedbacksignals to the local controllers 200-204 so that the local controllers200-204 can control various items via a closed loop control path. Forexample, a sensor may sense the x position of the x-y-z drive assemblysuch that the local controller 201 can stop movement of the drive in thex direction when the x-y-axis actuator assembly 105 attains the desiredx-position.

The drive assemblies may be controlled by the local controller 201 toposition the end-effector 107 in a position to accomplish its underlyingfunction; in this case, the underlying function is to fasten one pieceof metal to another piece of metal using a selected fastener. Thus, thelocal controller 200 may execute another sub-routine for positioning theend-effector 107 at a precise location with respect to the first andsecond pieces of metal. Further, the various drive assemblies that arepart of the modular device 100 may be used for granular positioningwhile one of the local controllers 200-204 may be in communication witha robotic arm to which the modular device 100 is mounted in order tocontrol broader movement. For example, the local controller 201 may sendsignals to a robotic arm to move the modular device 100 to a generallocation, but then use the drive assemblies such as modules 105 and 108)within the modular device 100 to move the end effector to a preciselocation.

The end-effector 107 may further include a tool selection assembly suchas a turret module 210 that is configured to position different tools orend-effectors that may be attached to the turret module 210 into aworking position or other position. In other embodiments, the toolselection assembly may be a linear selection device. Further yet, thetool selection assembly may be a combination of different tool selectiondevices. Examples of end-effectors that can be attached to the turretmodule 210 include a drill assembly, a camera assembly (to image, e.g.,a drilled hole for analysis), a hole-depth determiner, acounter-sink-depth determiner, a fastener inserter, and a fastenerinstaller. The turret module 210 may include a motor that rotates theturret to position a selected one of the tools in a work or otherposition, such as positioning the drill to drill a hole.

The modular device 100 of FIG. 2 includes a fastener-delivery assembly109 that may include a fastener-orientation mechanism that can properlyorient and load fasteners for use at the end-effector 107. Thefastener-load mechanism may receive from the local-controller 200information identifying the size of the fastener to be delivered, or themechanism may effectively be able to determine the size without inputfrom the local controller 204. Moreover, the tools on the turret module210 may themselves be modular and self-contained with a dedicated localand nested controller. For example, one may be able to replace thedrill, which includes a spindle motor assembly 106 and local motorcontroller (not shown), independently of the other tools in the overallmodular device 100. The modular device 100 of FIG. 2 includes ahuman-machine interface 215 configured to provide a graphic userinterface for local programmatic control of the device independent ofthe master control system.

In general, the end-effector assembly 107 includes a local controller200 that, e.g., handles communications to/from the master control systemand that controls one or more next-level sub-controllers 201-204 (e.g.,nested controllers) within the modular device 100. For example, thelocal controller 200 may execute software that translates commands fromthe master control system into control signals or commands tosub-controllers 201-204 in the end effector, assembly 107 or otherassemblies in the modular device 100 and that translates commands fromthe various sub-controllers 201-204 to the master control system. Suchsimple commands from the local controller 200 may simply be to begin themodular device function such that control is relinquished to the localcontroller 200 for accomplishing said function. Then, after saidfunction is complete, the local controller 200 may communicate to themaster control system that said function is complete and that control isrelinquished back to the master control system.

There are several advantages realized in a self-contained modular systemof FIGS. 1 and 2. First, the master control system, which is often aPLC, may have programming instructions that can be shortened andsimplified as various commands to and from a coupled modular device 100need only be minimal. Further, such PLC instructions at the mastercontrol system level need to be modified (or tested, debugged, andreinstalled) at all when software/firmware on board the modular device100 is modified.

Second, the PLC of the master control system can send commands to themodular device 100 instead of analog or digital signals. This allows theconnector 110 (e.g., “umbilical cord”) between the PLC and the modulardevice to be reduced to incorporating an Ethernet connection (e.g., CAT6) and a power connection. By reducing the number of individualconnections, the connector is smaller, less complex, and more reliable.Additionally, the modular device 100 may run from 110 VAC instead of aspecialized supply voltage like 408 VDC.

Third, the modular device 100 may store its own calibration data and maycalibrate itself independently of the PLC of the master control system.This relieves the PLC memory of the burden of storing a calibration LUTfor each possible modular device 100 in the system, and also eliminatesthe need to update such various LUTs when a modular device 100 isswitched out. That is, swapping out an end-effector assembly 107 is nowtransparent to the PLC of the master control system because it requiresno updates to the PLC software or stored calibration/configuration data.

Third, because the modular device 100 is designed as a modular unit,repairing the end-effector assembly 107 or other assembly in the modulardevice 100 entails shipping only the defective module back to theequipment supplier. This means that to avoid down time, the entity usingthe modular device system may need to keep only spare modules, notentire spare robots on hand to swap out with a broken or defectiveassembly or module. Furthermore, tests (e.g., a test after repair orafter a software update) can be performed on the end-effector assembly107 independently of the remainder of the robot system. Therefore, thetester need not have an entire master robot system or a robot-systememulator.

FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of an overall robotic control system 300set in a manufacturing environment that includes the self-containedmodular manufacturing device 100 of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment ofthe subject matter disclosed herein. The system 300 includes a mastercontrol system 301 that may be a PLC or other programmable processorthat is configured to control various robotic and automated subsystemswithin the overall robotic control system 300. In FIG. 3, only onesubsystem 302 is shown for simplicity, but a skilled artisan understandsthat the system 300 may include multiple subsystems.

The subsystem 302 shown in FIG. 3 shows a robotic stanchion 320 that hasa robotic arm 310 mounted in a movable manner to the robotic stanchion320. Thus, under control of the master control system 301, the roboticarm may be maneuvered in several directions and degrees of freedom toplace a mounted modular manufacturing device 100 into a position near anunderlying manufactured item, such as the ribbed structure 330 shown inFIG. 3. In an embodiment, the self-contained modular manufacturingdevice 100 may take control of the robotic arm 310 if control isrelinquished by the master control system 301. Such a control handshakeis described above and not repeated in detail here.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the system 300 of FIG. 3 set in amanufacturing environment that includes the self-contained modularmanufacturing device 100 of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of thesubject matter disclosed herein. In this block diagram, theself-contained modular manufacturing device 100 includes the localcontrollers 200-204 described above for controlling actions andfunctions of various modules 105-109 the self-contained modularmanufacturing device 100 and, at times, the robotic arm 310. In thecontext of FIG. 4, each module 105-109 is shown with a respective localcontroller 200-204, each of which may be configured to have similarcomponents as are described next with respect to the controller 200.

The local controller 200 includes a processor 407 configured to executeinstructions that may be stored in a local memory 408. The memory 408 iscoupled to the processor via a communication and data bus 406. The bus406 is also coupled to one or more interfaces 405 for one or moreend-effectors. In other embodiments, the interface 405 may be forcoupling additional modular devices or other devices in a nestedcontroller manner, such as modules 105,106, 108 and 109. In theembodiment of FIG. 4, a first “top-level” controller 200 may becommunicatively coupled to a second tier controller 201 within thex-y-axis actuator module 105. In turn, another tier of controllers 202,203, and 204 may be nested and communicatively coupled to the controller201 of the x-y-axis actuator module 105. In this respect, control offunctionality of various components within the overall modular device100 may be passed back and forth between tiers of nested controllers200-204.

The modular device controller 200 also includes an input/outputinterface 410 suitable for handling communication signals to and fromother related manufacturing devices and controllers in the system 300.In this embodiment, the I/O interface 410 is communicatively coupled toa communication interface 420 housed within the robotic arm 310. Inother embodiments, the communication interface 420 may be within astanchion 320 of the robotic arm as shown in FIG. 3 or may be in directcommunication with the master control system 301. The communicationprotocol for these devices may be standard Ethernet using TCP/IPprotocol. Other embodiments may be a proprietary communication protocol,such as a proprietary “Smart Tool Protocol” (STP), using TCP/IP Ethernetor other standard serial or parallel interfaces (e.g., RS-232 or thelike).

The communication interface 420 associated with the robotic arm may becoupled to one or more robotic actuators configured to move the roboticarm 310 in one or more direction or orientations (such as pivoting orrotating). The master control system 301, in turn, may include a mastercontroller 460 that includes an I/O interface 461, a processor 462 and amemory 463 for accomplishing master control tasks and functions.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of an overall control system 500 set in amanufacturing environment that includes the several self-containedmodular manufacturing device 100 of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment ofthe subject matter disclosed herein. The system 500 includes the modulardevice 100 having a local controller 200. This may be similar to themodular device 100 described in FIGS. 1-4. Additionally, the system 500includes three more modular devices 510, 520 and 530 that eachrespectively include local controllers 511, 521, and 531. These modulardevices may be arranged in a hierarchy of control such that one or moreof the controllers 200, 511, 521, and 531 may exert control over one ormore of the individual modular devices 100, 510, 520, and 530.

In this embodiment, modular devices 100 and 510 may be coupled to anetwork 501. The network is further coupled to a master control system301 having a master controller 460. Further the network may be coupledto a robotic arm actuator system 310. Additionally, modular device 520and 530 are coupled to the modular device 510. In this respect,communications are routed through the modular device 510 and notdirectly through the network 510. Several other alternative arrangementsand hierarchies may exists but are not shown further for brevity.

Various methods may be realized using the system 300 of FIG. 3 which isexemplified in the block diagrams of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5; an embodiment ofone method is described next with respect to FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of a method for using several self-containedmodular manufacturing devices in the systems of FIGS. 4 and 5 accordingto an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein. The methoddescribed with respect to the flow diagram of FIG. 6 is for anunderlying manufacturing function for drilling and fastening togethertwo pieces of metal that are being held by tooling. The order and numberof steps, and the steps themselves, may be different in otherembodiments.

The method begins at step 600 and proceeds to a first step 601 whereinthe master controller 460 may be engaged for maneuvering a firstself-contained modular manufacturing device 100 to a position toaccomplish a first manufacturing function. For example, the mastercontroller may first move a modular device having a drilling assembly asan end effector 107 such that a hole may be drilled by the end-effector107 of the first modular device. The master controller may thenindicate, at step 603, to the first modular device 100 that the firstmodular device to (or close to) the drill position.

At step 605, the actual control of the modular device may be passed tothe modular device 100 such that a local controller may now engage theaccomplishing of the drilling function. At step 607, the accomplishingof the first manufacturing function is undertaken via the first localcontroller disposed in the first modular device 100. At step 609, thelocal controller 200 of the first modular device 100 indicates to themaster controller 460 that the first modular device 100 has accomplishedthe first manufacturing function at which time, overall control may bepassed back to the master controller 460, at step 611. Now a secondfunction may be accomplished by a second modular device 510 undercontrol of a second local controller 511.

At step 613, the master controller may maneuver a second self-containedmodular manufacturing device 510 to the same first position where thehole was just drilled to accomplish a second manufacturing function,such as installing a fastener in the newly drilled hole. The initialmaneuvering may be controlled by the master controller 460 until thefunction position is reached. In alternative embodiments, the firstmodular device 100 may be used to control the second modular device 510.In any case, once the second modular device 510 is in position, anindication of such positioning may be sent to the second modular device510 at step 615.

At step 617, control is then passed to the second controller 511 suchthat the second modular device 510 can then engage, through its localcontroller 511, to accomplish the second manufacturing function at step619. Once the fastener has been installed, the second modular devicecontroller 511 may indicate to the master controller 460 (or the firstmodular device 100 in some embodiments) that the second function hasbeen accomplished at step 621. Then, at step 623, overall control may bepassed back to the master controller 460.

Additional optional or alternative steps in this method include storingresults of accomplishing the manufacturing functions in a local memorydisposed in the one or more of the self-contained modular manufacturingdevices. Another optional step may be loading parameters foraccomplishing the manufacturing functions from a local memory disposedin one or more of the self-contained modular manufacturing devices priorto accomplishing any manufacturing function. Yet another option is tohave third and fourth functions locally control after a controlhandshake.

Once all functions have been accomplished, the method ends at step 630.Additional steps may be added in other embodiments, such as additionalcontrol handshakes with nested controllers as well as multiple functionsat the same position, such as locating, drilling, measuring andinstalling a fastener with respect to a hole. Further, the steps of thismethod need not be performed in exactly the order depicted in FIG. 6 andsome steps may be omitted. The above example is just one illustrativeexample out of many illustrative examples.

While the subject matter discussed herein is susceptible to variousmodifications and alternative constructions, certain illustratedembodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and have been describedabove in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is nointention to limit the claims to the specific forms disclosed, but onthe contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternativeconstructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope ofthe claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: a plurality ofself-contained modular devices, each self-contained modular deviceincluding: an actuator mount configured to removably engage an actuatorsuited to maneuver any modular device coupled thereto; an interfaceconfigured to communicate with a master control system remote from eachself-contained modular device that is capable of controlling theactuator; an end-effector disposed in each self-contained modular deviceand configured to accomplish a manufacturing function; and a localcontroller disposed in each self-contained modular device and configuredto control the respective end-effector independent of the master controlsystem.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein each self-contained modulardevice further comprises a motion actuator assembly configured tomaneuver the respective end-effector under control of the respectivelocal controller.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein each end-effectorcomprises one from the group comprised of: a drill assembly, a cameraassembly, a hole-depth determining assembly, a counter-sink-depthdetermining assembly, a fastener inserter assembly, a fastener installerassembly, a motion actuator assembly, a rotation motion assembly, animpact actuator assembly, and pivot motion assembly.
 4. The system ofclaim 1, wherein each local controller comprises an electronic processorconfigured to execute computer instructions stored in a respectivememory disposed in each respective self-contained modular device.
 5. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein at least one local controller is configuredto communicate with at least one other local controller according to ahierarchy of control protocol with respect to each local controllerpresent in the system.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least of theplurality of self-contained modular devices further comprises acommunication module configured to communicate electronic signals to andfrom the master control system.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein: atleast one local controller is further configured to receive anelectronic start signal from the master control system that causes theat least one local controller to initiate the manufacturing function;and the at least one local controller is further configured to send anelectronic finish signal to the master control system or to at least oneother local controller indicating that manufacturing function isaccomplished.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of theplurality of self-contained modular devices further comprises a secondend-effector configured to accomplish a second manufacturing functionunder control of the respective local controller.
 9. The system of claim1, further comprising at least one user interface configured to providea graphic user interface configured to provide local programmaticcontrol of at least one of the plurality of self-contained modulardevices independent of the master control system.
 10. A manufacturingsystem, comprising: a first modular system, having: a plurality ofself-contained modular devices, each self-contained modular deviceincluding: an actuator mount configured to removably engage an actuatorsuited to maneuver any modular device coupled thereto; an interfaceconfigured to communicate with a master control system remote from eachself-contained modular device that is capable of controlling theactuator; an end-effector disposed in each self-contained modular deviceand configured to accomplish a manufacturing function; and a localcontroller disposed in each self-contained modular device and configuredto control the respective end-effector independent of the master controlsystem; and a second modular system having at least one modular devicethat includes a self-contained local controller configured to controlthe respective end-effector independent of the master control system.11. The manufacturing system of claim 10, wherein the master controlsystem is configured to relinquish control of the robotic actuator to atleast one of the self-contained modular devices to accomplish themanufacturing task.
 12. The manufacturing system of claim 10, wherein atleast one of the self-contained modular devices further comprises amotion actuator disposed in the housing and configured to maneuver theat least one self-contained modular device in cooperation with therobotic arm actuator.
 13. The manufacturing system of claim 12, whereinthe at least one self-contained modular device is configured torelinquish control of the robotic actuator to the master control systemafter the manufacturing task is accomplished.
 14. A method, comprising:maneuvering a first self-contained modular manufacturing device to aposition to accomplish a first manufacturing function, the maneuveringcontrolled by a master controller remote from the first self-containedmodular manufacturing device; indicating to the first self-containedmodular manufacturing device that the first self-contained modularmanufacturing device is in the position; accomplishing the firstmanufacturing function, the accomplishing controlled by a first localcontroller disposed in the first self-contained modular manufacturingdevice; indicating to the master controller that the firstself-contained modular manufacturing device has accomplished the firstmanufacturing function; maneuvering a second self-contained modularmanufacturing device to the first position to accomplish a secondmanufacturing function, the maneuvering controlled by the mastercontroller; indicating to the second self-contained modularmanufacturing device that the second self-contained modularmanufacturing device is in the position; accomplishing the secondmanufacturing function, the accomplishing controlled by a second localcontroller disposed in the second self-contained modular manufacturingdevice; and indicating to the master controller that the secondself-contained modular manufacturing device has accomplished the secondmanufacturing function.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the positioncomprises a rough estimate of a final position and wherein the methodfurther comprises relinquishing control of the maneuvering to the firstself-contained modular manufacturing device to maneuver the firstself-contained modular manufacturing device into the final position withgreater precision.
 16. The method of claim 14, further comprisingaccomplishing the manufacturing task by actuating an end-effectorconfigured to accomplish the manufacturing function.
 17. The method ofclaim 14, further comprising storing results of accomplishing themanufacturing function in a local memory disposed in the firstself-contained modular manufacturing device.
 18. The method of claim 14,further comprising loading parameters for accomplishing themanufacturing function from a local memory disposed in the firstself-contained modular manufacturing device prior to accomplishing themanufacturing function.
 19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:maneuvering the first self-contained modular manufacturing device to asecond position to accomplish the first manufacturing function, themaneuvering controlled by the master controller remote from the firstself-contained modular manufacturing device; indicating to the firstself-contained modular manufacturing device that the firstself-contained modular manufacturing device is in the second position;accomplishing the first manufacturing function, the accomplishingcontrolled by the local controller disposed in the first self-containedmodular manufacturing device.
 20. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising: maneuvering a third self-contained modular manufacturingdevice to the first position to accomplish a third manufacturingfunction, the maneuvering controlled by the master controller;indicating to the third self-contained modular manufacturing device thatthe third self-contained modular manufacturing device is in theposition; accomplishing the third manufacturing function, theaccomplishing controlled by a third local controller disposed in thethird self-contained modular manufacturing device; and indicating to themaster controller that the third self-contained modular manufacturingdevice has accomplished the third manufacturing function.